In August of 2023, the FCFSC showcase ensemble group EPIC Productions traveled to the Boston area for the National Showcase Competition held at the Skating Club of Boston. Founded in 2017, the group is led by Director Marianne Stroble with choreography and management by Assistant Director Denaysa Sisemore and additional choreography and rehearsal leadership this year from Lisa Moore and Kassie Hawley.
The group’s 19 skaters range in age from 11 to 18, levels Preliminary through Senior. They performed in four ensembles, and 13 skaters also competed in singles and duet events. Congratulations to our skaters, coaches, and parents on an amazing competition!
All 19 members of EPIC Productions performed in a large production number with a vibrant program based on the Broadway musical Seussical. The Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, Horton the Elephant, several Whos from Whoville, and various jungle denizens created a colorful spectacle on the ice. The program included bright costumes and elaborate set pieces created by parent volunteer Maria Miller – including a giant magnifying glass! You may have caught the number at the 2023 FCFSC Ice Show or at the EP summer fundraising exhibition in July. If so, we thank you for your support!
The group also put three mini-ensembles onto the ice this year. The Silver Mini brought sass and attitude to “Revolting Children” from Matilda, earning them a 4th place medal on the podium in the final awards ceremony. A passel of pirates skated to “Hook’s Tango” from Peter Pan, and elegant Greek goddesses performed as muses in “Zero to Hero” from the Disney movie Hercules, earning the groups 6th and 7th place in the Gold Mini event.
The team also boasted 13 skaters performing in singles and duet events. Three received medals for individual programs: Grace Carpenter (3rd) in Novice Interpretive; Lauren Knuckey (4th) in Preliminary Emotional Performance; and Mayley Miller (4th) in Preliminary Comedic Impressions. Congratulations to all our singles and duet skaters, who also included Sofia Cann, Emily Davis, Megan Doherty, Kaiya Goodwin, Nour Hamdan, Melina Miller, Rocío Pardina, Anya Schuster, and Claudia Schuster. We’re so proud of you all for your hard work and for taking on the challenge of competing at the national level.
Grace Carpenter and EP alumna Rowan Martey also skated with FCFSC member Rob Hanley in the Adaptive Skate Emotional performance – we are so proud to represent FCFSC in this special event! We’re grateful that the team was joined this year by EPIC Productions alumna Brooklyn King, who, along with Rowan Martey, helped out with costumes, make-up, and plenty of cheering!
A most remarkable accomplishment of the 2023 team was their fundraising efforts, led by Alison Coatman, including a Skate-A-Thon in March, a garage sale, and the July exhibition. The team raised over $6,000 that helped pay for costumes, props, a team dinner at the competition, and extra coaching hours. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the families and friends who gave so generously to support the team.
The team is also incredibly grateful for all the hard work and enthusiasm from all our parent volunteers, especially our new financial guru Monica Doherty, brilliant props and sets manager Maria Miller, and fundraising leader extraordinaire Alison Coatman. Team Manager Rosa Martey did her usual tricks and fun with costumes, as well as managing the team website and communication.
Special thanks, too, to our wonderful “Team B” parents who helped get props assembled and onto the ice during competition – we couldn’t have done it without you! Countless hours were spent by all our parents on costume wrangling, transporting skaters to rehearsals, herculean fundraising efforts, and general support.
Skater leadership is foundational to our team’s success, and many skaters stepped up to provide that extra support. Co-Captains Grace Carpenter and Sofia Cann (Seussical), Sadie Coatman and Merritt Cramer (Muses), Melina Miller and Megan Doherty (Hook), and Lauren Knuckey and Rocío Pardina (Matilda) helped with rehearsal coordination, warm-ups, and skater support. Nour Hamdan and Sadie Coatman took on social media and promotion to show off the team’s hard work and fun this year. We extend our additional congratulations to graduating high school seniors Sofia Cann and Grace Carpenter, both of whom have been with the team since the beginning as founding members. We will miss you!
Now fall is here, which means that the EPIC Productions organizing team is starting the planning for the 2024 season. Keep an eye out for announcements about the EP casting call, exhibitions, and fundraising events.
If you’re a Preliminary through Senior level skater who wants to join the EPIC Productions showcase ensemble team for the 2024 season, there are slots available! Reach out to our EP coaches or to the team manager, Rosa Martey (rosa.martey@colostate.edu) for information. You can also learn more about the group and see recent videos at EPICproductionsFoCo.org.
